Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-10-27
WASHBURNE is NO MORE.
Died at Chicago, 0e OF 22d.
His Life Was Pure and His Deeds
We're NOBLE.

Hon. E. B. Washburne died in Chicago,
suddenly Oct. %. His disease was con-
gestion of the heart.
The Washburne family came from the
best of Revolutionary and Puritan stock,
their ancestor, John Washburne, being
the first secretary of the Council of Ply
mouth. The father of Elihu B. Wash
burne and six brothers was a native of
Massachusetts and resident of Maine, in
which latter state his family was rearsd.
The father, Israel Washburne, was a
farmer and storekeeper at Livermore,
Oxford county, "District of Maine"
where Elihu was born in September,
1916. There were seven sons, most of
whom have attained distinction in politi-
cal, military and civil life. The best
known of these are Israel Washburne,
member of congress from Maine. and
governor of that state; Cadwallader G.
Washburne, member of congress from
Wisconsin, a major general in the army
and governor of Wisconsin; and Gen.
William d. Washburne, annex member of
congress from Minnesota, solder in the
war, and at present prominent miller
and railroad magnate of Minneapolis.
Of the seven brothers, Sidney, Israel and
e. B. Washburne settled in Galena, ILL.,,
in JS40. In 1852 he was elected to con-
gress, and reelected several times. He
was regarded as the nearest friend of
Abraham Lincoln. -
When Gen. Grant became president he
appointed Mr.. Washburne secretary of
state. He was then made minister to
France.
N ia hrpa ont Of hot
France aud Prussia Minister Washburne
came into Immediate prominence, and
found himself called on to perform the
most exacting and laborious duties, as
we'll as some of the most delicate known
to foreign diplomacy. The archives of
the German embassy were turned over to
Minister Washburne, and the latter's SER
vices were requested as matter of nat
ional hospitality in securing the safe
transportation through the French lines
of the 10000 German residents of Paris,
who desired to return to their native
country on tie breaking out of hostilities,
in accordance with the terms of Internal
ional comfy. This required the utmost
tact and rare abilities as diplomat, pre-
serving friendly relations with France
while performing this gracious service to
Germany. Mr.. Washburne succeeded
most admirably. The American legation
became the common resort of the OPP
pressed of all nations, and to all Minister
Washburne extended every possible as
sistance. During the terrors of the COM
mime Mr.. Washburne was the only foreign
minister that remained in Paris. For
his distinguished and heroic services dur
ing the siege of Paris Mr.. Washburne has
h &Lox1 e j.,
the German people and other national
tiles, and has been warmly complimented
by the governments of several nations.
Emperor William conferred upon him
the Order of the Red Eagle, one of the
highest in the gift of the German crown,
and wrote him personal letter express
ing his gratitude and esteem, sending
with it jeWeled star of great value and
an oil painting of himself. Mr.. Wash
burne returned to this country after a
residence of nearly nine years in Paris.
His name has been mentioned in connec-
ton with the presidency moro than once,
and in 1880 he was a candidate before
the convention which nominated Garfield.
Since his return to this country, in 1877,
Mr.. Washburne lived in Chicago. His
wife died in March last. His eldest son,
Gratiot, died in December last, and the
rest of the family who are still living are
as follows: Hampstead Washburn, city at
tOrney Of Chicago; Marie, now Mrs. A. FL.
Fowler, of Denver; Susie, now Mrs. w. d.
Bishop, of Bridgeport, Conn; Pitt, who
is living on the old Washburne home
stead at Livermore, Me-, where he has
charge of the Washburne memorial libra
ry of 5000 volumes, and Elihu, who Is
now preparing for a civil engineering
course at Kingston. N. Y.